The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-15
THE REMAINS OF LINCOLN.
The Martyred Presidents Ashes at Last Placed
In Security--Work of the Guard Of Honor.

Special to the INDIANAPOLIS Journal.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.,, April 1.-THE caskets con-
tanning the remains of the late President Lin
coin and Mrs. Lincoln were removed, opened,
and the bodies identified, to-day, and turned
over to the Monument Association by the Lin
coin Guard of Honor.
On the night Of Nov. z, 1876, Mullen and
Hughes, two Chicago thieves made an unsuc-
cessful attempt to steal the body of the late
President Lincoln. The marble sarcophagus in
which it was inclosed. and which was exposed to
the view Of visitors through the iron grating on
the north side of the monument. was forced
open and the coffin taken out. but
az this point the robbers were in
terfered with oy certain person
secreted in the monument who had received
information that the robbery was to be at
tempted. Since that time the public mind has
been in state of uncertainty as to the real
resting place OF the martyrs body, a report
having gone out that it was not returned to the
sarcophagus after the attempted robbery. All
the mystery that has attached to the matter is
now cleared away. It now appears that the
body was replaced in the sarcophagus and re-
mained there for about week. The members
of the association, however, felt that
it was insecure, and it was subse-
| quently removed to place of
| greater safety. Finally, the Lincoln Guard
of Honor, which is composed of some of the best
| known and most highly respected citizens of
/ Springfield. was organized. One of the duties of
| this association has been to sacredly guard the
| body of the dead President During the month
| of November, 1875 the members of the guard
with their own hands. prepared vault within
| the monument for the body. The excavation
was made in the earth about thirty feet south
! OF the sarcopnagus, and the body safely de-
/ posted therein, and the mouth of the
excavation closed. The atmosphere at
was made was almost sitting and the
| work was prosecuted at different times during
| the stiffness of the night, with no human eye to
| witness it, save those who were assisting in the
labor of love. Two days after the funeral of
Mrs. Lincoln, in July, 1882, her body was taken
by the guard and laid beside that of her hus-
band. The members bound themselves by the
solemnity CT oath not to reveal what had
been done until the proper time, and that time
| has now arrived.
To-day both of the bodies were taken
by the Lincoln Guard of Honor, in
the presence of the monument as
sociation. and placed in new
/ receptacle prepared for them during the week.
| THIS receptacle is in the EARTH near where the
sarcopnagus has so long Stood 1t has on the
bottom twelve inches of cement. and has double
! walls OF brick. The entrance to it. now that the
bodies have been placed in their final resting
! places. is cemented over, and this will. in time
become solid rock. After this work had
been completed the bodies were formally turned
over by the guard to the monument association
and accepted by it. Before being finally en-
y ,touobed. the body of Lincoln identified
"A The hair and beard have fallen off. and the face
discolored, but the contours is still perfect, and
the face is said to strongly resemble that of tn,
bronze statue in the monument